Senior moved to NG from DE

By Chris Miller-Prep Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 10:45 AM.

“I just had to step up,” Reed said. “I already knew that I would have to fill in (for Muldrow) if anything ever happened to him because all offseason they (coaches) told me to work both positions. Our whole D-line knows how to play every position.

“It’s not really that difficult. It’s the same steps, just from a different position. Really, the only difference at end is you have outside containment, but up the middle you want to fill in the holes and make sure they bounce out.”

In other words, Reed’s job is to disrupt the offensive line and cause havoc in the backfield.

“His main goal is to own the A-gap and then find the ball and get to the ball,” Whitacre said. “He’s played physical and he gets after it. He’s just taken it up a notch from where he was playing before.”

Perhaps Reed, who is originally from Orangeburg, S.C., has taken some lessons from afar from his favorite football player, University of South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

“I got the drive, I guess,” Reed said. “I never give up. I just fight. If the play is there for me, I just need to take it.”

That doesn’t mean Reed acts just on instinct. He never lines up without a plan of action. He knows what he needs to do before the snap of the ball.

“By far last week Matt really stepped it up,” he said. “Every week he has played better.”

Reed, a three-year varsity player, entered this season as a defensive end. It was a good fit for the 6-foot-4, 235-pound defender because his coaches say he’s strong enough to pull away from blockers and quick enough to get to the football.

Last year, Reed made the honorable mention list of The Daily News all-area team.

“At defensive end he was doing fine,” Williams said. “He started making plays for us.”

However, nose guard Alva Muldrow suffered a season-ending right knee injury during Jacksonville’s 7-6 win over Richlands on Sept. 7. Muldrow’s absence left a gapping hole in the middle of the defensive line, meaning someone else had to step up and fill the void.

Reed was the man for the job for the Cardinals, who are allowing just 13 point a game heading into Friday night’s game at West Craven (4-3, 2-1). A win would guarantee the Cardinals, who were 6-6 in 2007, their first winning season since going 9-4 in 2004.

“Matt went from defensive end to nose guard to stop some of the inside runs everybody in the conference does,” Williams said. “He’s pretty solid, and he’s a big guy who has a strong upper body and who runs really well. He just had to get used to having more double teams.”

Reed, who made the state 3-A wrestling championships last year as a heavyweight, brushed off the idea that changing positions was going to be difficult. While it takes some adjusting to change spots in game situations, Reed knew he was ready for the switch since he had practiced at both positions before Muldrow’s injury.

“I just had to step up,” Reed said. “I already knew that I would have to fill in (for Muldrow) if anything ever happened to him because all offseason they (coaches) told me to work both positions. Our whole D-line knows how to play every position.

“It’s not really that difficult. It’s the same steps, just from a different position. Really, the only difference at end is you have outside containment, but up the middle you want to fill in the holes and make sure they bounce out.”

In other words, Reed’s job is to disrupt the offensive line and cause havoc in the backfield.

“His main goal is to own the A-gap and then find the ball and get to the ball,” Whitacre said. “He’s played physical and he gets after it. He’s just taken it up a notch from where he was playing before.”

Perhaps Reed, who is originally from Orangeburg, S.C., has taken some lessons from afar from his favorite football player, University of South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

“I got the drive, I guess,” Reed said. “I never give up. I just fight. If the play is there for me, I just need to take it.”

That doesn’t mean Reed acts just on instinct. He never lines up without a plan of action. He knows what he needs to do before the snap of the ball.

“Instead of just running around looking for the ball, Matt is reading his keys and making plays,” Williams said. “He’s just more mature now, and his discipline level has gotten better.”

And that has made for a long night for opposing centers. Reed doesn’t say a word to them before a play. He just looks them in the eyes as if to signal he’s ready to take them down.

“I just look at them. That’s all I can do,” Reed said. “That’s the worst you can do is just look at him in the eyes.”